Hundreds of firefighters are battling several wildfires in southern France on Thursday, fueled by drought, record temperatures, and strong winds. In the Aude region near the Spanish border, crews are working to bring flames under control as unfavorable weather conditions and high winds continue to fan the blazes.
The fires have burned hundreds of hectares and forced the evacuation of nearly 3,000 tourists and locals. This includes approximately 200 people who were evacuated or confined in the communes of Pouzols-Minervois and Mailhac. While the Aude region remains a focus, the local fire brigade reported that another wildfire in the Lancon area has been brought under control.
France's weather office, Meteo-France, has warned that the country may face another wave of elevated or extreme heat next week. While this new spell of high temperatures is expected, it may not be as extreme as the heat experienced in June.